Book holder



May 17, 1938. w. v. JOHNSON BOOK HOLDER Filed Maron 11, 1937` gmc/MM, muohnson @mama/1J Patented May 17, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFlCE 1 BOOK HOLDER William V. Johnson, Washington, D. C.

Application March 11, 1937, Serial No. 130,387

2 Claims.

Ilhis invention relates to book holders, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be employed with equal facility to maintain a book in a position to serve as` a book end or whereby the book may be held in a convenient position or adjustment for reading.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kind with means for coaction with the leaves of a book for holding the same against such turning movement which would interfere with the reader.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved book holder whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure lis a view in perspective of a book holder constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation showing the device in position to hold a book for use as a book end;

Figure 3 is a View in front elevation of the device as herein set forth;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation illustrating the device in position for maintaining a book in convenient adjustment for reading.

My improved holder as herein disclosed comprises a single length of sheet metal of requisite gauge and desired Width and which is formed to provide a substantially flat body plate I having its outer end marginal portion continued by inwardly curving flange 2 which, when the holder is used in the manner as illustrated in Figure 5, permits a contact with a supporting surface a which will not mar, as by scratching, such surface. The opposite or inner end of the plate I is continued by a second plate 3 which extends on a slight angle inwardly of the perpendicular with respect to the plate I, and this plate 3 is returned to provide an overlying plate 4 and this plate 4 is reverted to provide a plate 5 overlying the outer face of the plate 4.

The connecting or junction portion 6 at the adjacent ends of the plates 3 and 4 is rounded as is also the corresponding junction portion 'l connecting the plates 4 and 5. These rounded portions 6 and 'I provide for contact with the surface a in a manner which will eliminate scratching or otherwise marring such surface.

The plates 3 and 4 are in convergence toward the plate I with the inner portion of the plate 3 and the outer end portion of the plate 4 sub- 10 stantially in contact. The plates 4 and 5 are in convergence in a direction away from the plate I with the inner end portion of the plate 4 and the outer portion of the plate 5 substantially in contact. The outer or free end portion of the l5 plate 5 is continued to provide an outwardly curved guiding lip 8.

`Extending substantially across the outer face of the plate 5 is a leaf spring 9, one end portion of which is riveted, as at II), or otherwise securely xed to the plate 5. The opposite end portion of this spring 9 is formed to provide a barrel II which receives the inner bar l2 of a loop I4. This loop I4 is substantially at right angles to a rod I5 extending along the upper 25 marginal portion of the plate 5 and having its opposite end continued to provide a second loop I6 disposed in the same general direction as the loop I4 and substantially parallel thereto. The loops I4 and I6 extend substantially the 00 entire length of the plate 5 although, of course, o I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect.

The spring 9 coacts with the leg I2 of the loop I4 to constantly urge the rod I5 and its 3.- second loop I6 toward the plate 5 whereby an effective clamping element is provided and more particularly for use in connection with a page of a book.

Upon swinging the loop I6 outwardly, the outer 40 bar of the loop I4 contacts with the adjacent plate 5 and serves as a fulcrum whereby the spring 9 is placed under tension as the loop I6 is moved outwardly. Upon release of the loop I6 the spring 9 will coact with the bar I2 of the 45 loop I4 to assure the immediate return of the loop IB together, of course, with the rod I5 in desired clamping relation with respect to the plate 5.

It is also possible, if desired, to swing the loop I4 away from the plate 5 so that said loop I4 may also be used as a clamping medium.

With my improved device as illustrated in Figure 2, the cover of a book is slipped between the plates 4 and 5 and securely held thereby and 55 with the plate l resting upon the supporting surface a the device together with the book secured thereto can be employed as a book end. With the device, however, in the position as illustrated in Figure 5, the cover of the book is slipped between the plates 3 and 4 and the contact of the flange 2 and the connecting or junction portion 6 with the surface a maintain the book in a convenient incline for reading.

It is also to be stated that While only a single device is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is preferred that two of such devices be employed with a single book with one device engaged with each of the book covers. This, however, applies only when the book is to be held in reading position. Of course, when the device is to be used in coaction with a book to provide a book end only a single device is required.

When the device is used for reading in order to hold the pages in proper open position, the pages as required are engaged between the rod I5 and either loop I4 or iii preferably the latter. It is also to be stated that it may be preferred, when the devices are sold in pairs, to have the loop I6 ofl the device of one pair reversely arranged or positioned with respect to the corresponding loop of the second device of the pair.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a book holder constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A book holder comprising a clamping element for a book cover, said element including a pair of coacting plates in overlying relation, a spring extending across the outer face of one of the outer plates and having an end portion secured thereto, a rod extending across the marginal portion of such plate and having a loop adjacent an end thereof extending laterally therefrom, and means for connecting the free end portion of the spring to the inner leg of the loop, the outer leg of the loop constituting a fulcrum coacting with the plate upon outward swinging of the rod to increase the tension of the spring.

2. A book holder comprising a clamping element for a book cover, said element including a pair of coacting plates in overlying relation, a

rod extending along the outer face of one of the plates and having a laterally extending part, and means for connecting an end portion of the rod to said plate, said means being constructed and arranged to urge the laterally disposed part of the rod toward the plate.

WILLIAM V. JOHNSON. 

